Crank construction for reels



Feb 8, 1938. PlTNEY 2,107,875

' CRANK CONSTRUCTION FOR REELS Filed June 10, 1935 I IN vzzvro/z 55m P/T/VEY. ,5) #15 flrrq/mwxs,

- yaw/Mm wd-4W Patented Feb. 8, 1938 1 Q} CRANK 'ooNs'mUo'rIon 170R REE S' l 1 Earl H. l itney, Excelsior, Minn, I Application 193 5, serialilxltp. 25,777

f Claims. (o1. le -51461.

This invention relates to reelsof the type for ;winding a flexible element upon a spool, such as,

' I for example, fishing reelsandrelates more particularlycto animproved crank construction as- '5 sociated withthe winding shaft in such manner that'greater torsional leverage will automatically be obtained as required according to theystrain or pull upon the reel. l

. j .It is an'object of my invention to provide a 1O crankconstructioncfor reels of 'the'general'class above referred to wherein the torsional leverage is proportionately increased as required according to strains or p-ullslimposed upon the'line or I flexible element being wound and wherein fur- Q 15. ther yielding action is provided for overcoming.

1 'thetendency of sharp pulls or jerks to break the line or flexible element being wound. .1

It" is a further object in adevice of theclass described to provide ameans for indicating the b amounto-f pull orstrain imposed, calibrations being provided by two, relatively movable parts which vary their positions in accordance with the strains imposed on the line or'flexible element.

I with special applicability to fishing reels, my invention is particularly .well adapted to prevent breakage of lightilineswhen strains or sudden --jerksfrom large fishare encountered, thereby enabling lighter linesto be used when fishing for garne fish and consequently enabling greaterJdis- 1 2 .tance and accuracy to be obtained in casting.

" And further, in connection with fishing reels, it

isan object toprovide a means associated with' thecrankconstruction"for roughly weighing a 5 v ns after it has been caught 1 and in fact deter- -53 mining with some approximation the size of a fish when a steady'pull is imposeduponthe line.

linother object is the provisionof improved crank construction wher'einja crank arm is connected with an element mounted for rotative ;1inov'elnent in such manner that thetorsionalleverage applied will "be automaticallyincrea'sedas H required according toffthe resistance encountered in'-turning' said element! 'l'hese and other objects and advanta'ges of the =invention will be morefully set forth in the fol v aracters" refer to similar parts throughout the Yu ii fi lf' n fin Fig; l' is afront elevatljon f a conventional type reel, with an", rnbo'dimentof my imo've'd'crankconstruetio'na lied haftithreof; W

I 2 ers ndelerae e el l i fialfieieet of; winding shaft W a distance considerably less .tha'n'the length of the crank arm.

nection between the inner end of the crank arm wing description made" in connection fwi th' the compan'ying drawin in which like "reference of the winding shaft are utilized, my invention t i q n therefrom, the curved crank arms 9. being arted lines indicating increased leverage positions of the two crank arms;

,Fig. 3 is avertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and showing a suitable means for connecting the resistance springs with the crank 5 armsand head of the crank construction;

-Fig.;4 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-'-4-of Fig. 1 and showing a suitable meansfor adjusting the tension of one of the resistance springs;

' Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a somewhat different form of crank construction detached, and

. Fig; 6 is a similar elevational view of a still different form of the invention.

An embodiment of myimproved crankcon- 15 struction, in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is illustrated as appliedto a fishing reel R of well known, conventional construction, said reel having the usual winding spool S properly journaled, for smooth rotation in suitable, bearings provided by end members of the reel frame and driven or revolved 0 by gear engagement with a winding shaft W disposed eccentrically of the axis of the spool and at one end of thereel in the usual manner. The driving gears are'housed in the right hand end E ofthe reel frame;

With-my .improved crank construction a cross head 8 is fixed to the outer end of the winding shaft W- and as shown is in the form of a flat plate carrying a centrally disposedsocket member 8a extending normal to the inner side thereof, which socket is non-rotatively connected or fixed to the outenprojecting end'of winding shaft W.

i As; shown, theplate or head Bis provided with enlarged ends 8b to which a pair of crank arms 9 arelpivotally and respectively connected. As showntheenlarged end of each of the crankarms 9 is connected by a pivotbolt ID with one of the enlarged ends 8b of the cross head, the axis of bolt Hi being disposed eccentricallyof the axis 40 It;will, of fcourse, be understood that I contemplate the use of any suitable eccentric con- 9 and thelwinding shaft W, whether through the medium of a cross head or otherwise.

crank arms balancedwith respect to the axis Cal is equally wellsuited to a single crank arm of the type illustrated.

Each of the crank arms 9 is provided with a crank handle or knob 9a projecting laterally ranged symmetrically as shown in Fig. 2 with V theends and knobs thereof normally disposed in alignment with the axis .of the winding shaft W.

A means for resisting outward swinging movement of each crank arm relative to the head 8,

and the axis of the shaft is provided, interposed between the crank arm and the pivot l0. Either friction or spring means can be used for such resistance and as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I provide a spiral spring II for each crank arm the inner extremity of which is fixed to the slotted end of pivot Ill, the outer end of which surrounds a pin 9b eccentrically disposed of the axis of crank arm 9, which normally abuts against a stop shoulder 8c providedby the enlarged portion 8b of the head. Pivot IO does not turn with crank arm 9 but is held stationary withhead 8 by clamping engagement through anutlz engaging the inner threaded end of pivot l0.. Tension placed on spring H may be adjusted by turning pivot l clock-wise or counter clock-Wise accord' ing to whether less or moreetension is desired and securing the same-in the adjusted position by 1 tightening the nut 12.

The extreme outward swinging of crank arms 9 relatively to the; head .is limited by means of shoulders 8d formed on the two enlarged portions of the head respectively whichare engaged by for'ce'or strain im-poseduponthe spool or other rotary portion or the reelthrough force imposed upon the line when it is wound. V

In operation torsional leverage on the winding shaft W through crank arm 9 is automatically increased according to requirements, that is, in accordance with the increased resistance to the turning or the shaft. The spring H or other means for-resisting outward swinging movement of the crank arm is tensioned properly to produce the desired results. Adjustment of the tensiorl maybe made by turning shaft H] as desired and clamping said shaft in proper position.

hhysudden resistance to winding or cranking, 1

such as "a sharppull on'the line is cushioned or 'ab sorbedthrough the yielding action of the crank arm 9 through resistance spring H. In fishing reels this is a "substantial advantage'in that sudden pulls from large fish will not break the line. Consequently lighter lines can be used with safety for casting andjconsequently greater accuracy and?distance'canbe obtained. After a 1 fish is hooked "the strain or pull imposed by the fish automatically regulates the relative leverage required and large fish may be reeled'in and landed -with"less-effo'rt and with substantial elimination of the danger of breaking the line.

The fisherman'c'an get some idea of the size of the fish on his lin e by observing the 'cooperating indicating means between the pivoted end of the 'crankarmand the adjacent portion of the head.

-When thefish is landed it can be approximately weighedby lifti'ng thev weight of the f sh out of water, the deflection or swinging of the crank arm through the "cooperating indicating means showing the approximate weight. Also by mean's of the cooperating indicating means a line may be tested for breakresistant strength before being used.

at w-ill be noted "that im rovedc nstruction a. wide variance is possible in the amount of leverage obtained between the two extreme positions of the crank arm, withnevertheless a relatively small and compact attachment. In this connection it will be noted that the diameter of the peripheral bearing surface of the pivot Hi for the crank arm is relatively small and that the axis of the Winding shaft "or element mounted for rotative movement is disposed-considerably outward of the said peripheral bearing surface of the pivot or crank arm bearing if) thus making possible the wide variance in leverage.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 includes a pair of crank arms nicely balanced on the head 8, although it--will of course, be understood that in many instances a single crank arm will be employed, so tapered and constructed from its pivoted end to its crank handle as to nicely be balanced with reference to the axis of the winding shaft or other element mounted for rotative movement. i 1 V- In'Fi'g. 5 asomewhat different form of the inventionis shown detached from the winding shaft. Ahead I6 in the form of a plate is utilized, nonrot'atively 'secured to the'winding shaft and at one end of" the headthe inner end of a crank arm I1 is suitably pivoted. A coiled spring I8 urges crank arm. I! inwardly relative to the head and winding sh'aft'; one end of said spri'ngbeing connected with the. crankarm I'l', the other end being connected with a projecting arm provided by the head lB. A shiftable arcuate plate H5 *is provided with graduations which, cooperate with an indicator arrow on the pivoted end of crank arm I! in the manner "of the indicatingmeans described 'on the first form of the invention described. Plate I9 may beadjusted properly for the amount of line wound on the spool and'the diameterof the winding portion of the spoolby loosening the retain ing screw 2%! and sliding the plate to-pr'oper position and again tightening screw 20.

In Fig; 6 a" still dififerent' form of the invention is shown detached from the winding shaft and includingi'a head 22 in 'theform of a plataone end of which isrfixed. to thewinding' shaft, the other end of which ha'spivotedthereto the crank arm 23. Means are provided for limiting the. out; ward swinging'movement of the arm. A catch member 24 is fixed to the inner portion of head 22 adapted to engage .a recess 'oridetent 23a formedin the medial'portion 'of crank arm 23. The crank arm is thus yieldably retained in extrem'e inward position but will be released by an unusually. strong v:pull on the line and will thereafter swingto its limit of outward'swinging movement wherein-greater torsional-leverage is ob- 'tained. Ii desired, frictional means may be in- ,serted between the-pivoted portion of crank arm '23 and the head 22 and such frictional means 7 may be :inclined to increase resistance as the ar-m approaches its'outward swinging limit. 7

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have invented a simpleand highly efflcient crank'construction applicable to elements of various types mountedfo'r rotative or turning" movement and wherein a crank is required to [effect such turni'nge It further will be seen that the invention is particularly[applicable toffis'h- 1mg reelaa'nd the likefand overcomes, to a large extent, the dangerfof breakage of a line from sharp pulls. or strains, asjwell as dec'reasingfthe' exertion f required in. playing and landing; large ,fish. It further will be seen 'th'atfish maybe approximately weighed out of water and a line tested through 'the' cooperating indicating means between the crank arm and the head on which i it is mounted.

I ",which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth,

and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

A What is claimed, is:-'-'

' 1. In combination withareel having a winding spool upon which a flexible element may be wound and having a winding shaft, crank con-f struction comprising a head connected with the outerend of said winding shaft, a crank arm pivoted to said head on an axis eccentric "to the 'Yaxisof said shaft, a handle adjacent the free end of said crank arm, means for limiting the inward swinging movement of said crank arm I relatively to said head and spring means for urging said crank arm toward its limit of inward swinging movement and for yieldably resisting- -*outward movement of said crank arm when a strain or pull is imposed on said wound flexible element, said last mentioned means normally fholding said crank arm in its extreme inward w position closely adjacenta straight line passing through said crank arm pivot and the axis of said shaft.

-2. The structure set forth in claim 1, and

I means for adjusting the tension on said spring a means.

; 3. In combination with a reel having a wind- ,ing spool 'upon which a flexible element maybe wound and having a winding shaft, crank con- 's'truction comprising a head connected with the outerend of said winding shaft, a crank arm pivoted to said head onran axis eccentric to the axisof said shaft, a handle adjacent the free end of said crank arm, means for limiting the ,,inward swinging movement of said crankarm relatively to said head, means for urging said crank armotoward its limit of inward swinging movement and cooperating indicating means ineluding means on said crank arm adjacent the pivoted end thereof and means on said head adjacent thereto, such means cooperating to indicate the amount of strain or pull on said wound flexible element.

4. In combination with an element mounted for rotative movement, crank construction comprising a member connected with said element, a crank arm pivoted to said member for swinging movement on an axis disposed eccentric of arm relative to said member and spring means for urging said crank arm toward said limit of inward swinging movement and for yieldably resisting outward movement of said crank arm.

5. In combination with a driven element mounted for rotative movement, variable leverage crank construction comprising a member non-rotatively connected with said driven element, a crank arm connected to said member for swinging movement relative thereto, the pivotal connection between said crank arm and said member being in the form of a pivot member having its axis disposed eccentrically of the axis of said driven element and having a peripheral bearing surface of relatively small circumference, the axis of said driven elementbeing loperipheral bearing surface whereby relatively great variance in leverage is obtained between the extreme inward and extremeoutward positions of said crank arm, said crank arm having an effective leverage length greater than the distance between its axis and the axis of said driven element, means for restricting outward swinging movement of said crank arm relative to said member beyond a predetermined point, and means for preventing outward swinging movement of said crank arm until a predetermined torsional resistance is imposed upon said driven member.

EARL H. PI'I'NEY.

j limitinginward swingingmovement of said crank 

